By H. E. Singley, organist

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

(II Corinthians 5:7, ESV)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

(Hebrews 11:6, NLT)

My faith has found a resting place, from guilt my soul is freed;
I trust the ever-living One, his wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain:
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves, this ends my fear and doubt;
a sinful soul I come to him, he’ll never cast me out. [Refrain]

My heart is leaning on the Word, the written Word of God:
salvation by my Savior’s name, salvation thro' his blood. [Refrain]

My great Physician heals the sick, the lost he came to save;
for me his precious blood he shed, for me his life he gave. [Refrain]

You may well be thinking that there is something different about the second phrase of the poem as it appears here. It is different from how I first learned it. The editors of the Trinity Hymnal made a slight adjustment in the text from the original, “My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed,” to “My faith has found a resting place, from guilt my soul is freed.” This subtle but important change reconciles the important role that the historic creeds have in the Church with the compelling positiveness of this Gospel-rich poetry.

To be certain, the faith we have in Christ supersedes any axiom or premise of human origin. Yet, the historic creeds are succinct summaries of Scripturally founded declarations regarding our faith and its core beliefs. We join Christian believers through many centuries—and each other—when we affirm the sinews of what we together hold to be true.

What’s more, “from guilt my soul is freed” reminds us of Isaiah 6:7—"He touched my lips with it and said, ‘See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven’” (NLT). Also, Acts 13:39, “And by him [Jesus] everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” (ESV).

This hymn by Lidie H. Edmunds, a nom de plume used by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt*, centers on the Gospel. There are several references to Jesus’ sacrificial death for our sin, along with an emphasis on God’s Word (cf. stanza three, “leaning on the written Word of God”). I would like to focus this short essay primarily on the opening phrase, “My faith has found a resting place.”

Faith “shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT). In one of the most uplifting chapters in all of Scripture, Hebrews 11 describes the faith of several notables about whom we know from vivid narratives elsewhere in God’s Word. There are three summaries of these extraordinary individuals in the chapter:

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. . . . They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

(Hebrews 11:33-34a, b, 35b)

Another compelling synopsis is in verses 13 and 16.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. . . . they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Then notice toward the end of the chapter in verse 39:

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith yet none of them received all that God had promised.

It is always beneficial to remind ourselves of our innate human tendency to put our faith in that which we can touch, feel, see or control in some way—with a confident assumption that things are going to proceed smoothly with minimal interruption and a perpetual predictability. The coronavirus pandemic is a stark reminder of misplaced reliance on ourselves or any human institution to “manage” life, to keep our routines as dependable, safe and risk-free as possible.

There is an alternative to the incontrovertibly unknown and ultimately ungovernable human pilgrimage. Henry David Thoreau is not necessarily someone we would hear quoted in church very often; but he did say something that is worth considering when, for instance, we envision a technological fix of some sort to that which otherwise seems beyond solution.

Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.

They are but improved means to an unimproved end . . . .

The alternative is the “resting place”—the rest—that we can find by living every moment of every day with our faith placed in the “ever-living One,” the One who decidedly offers a very improved end—eternal life in His presence! Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Hebrews 4:3a says, “For only we who believe can enter his rest.” Most who will read this have, I’m sure, believed in Christ for salvation. Concurrently, because we’ve trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin and an eternal relationship with God, we are confident about what lies beyond this life.

But, what about now, the “not yet?” Can we find rest by intentionally, constantly trusting Him?

“Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them. But you are always the same; you will live forever. The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”

(Psalm 102:25-28, NLT)

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

(Matthew 24:35, NLT)

IDEAS FOR LISTENING

Listen for the melody of the hymn-tune throughout.
There are three stanzas of in music plus one refrain. As you listen, perhaps think of stanzas one, two and three. But, definitely read and think about stanza four!
Sing the hymn–words AND music–even if you’re by yourself!

____________________________

*Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was a life-long Philadelphian, a Presbyterian, a Sunday School teacher and a writer of poems, several of which were set to music (e.g., “When We All Get to Heaven”). The hymn-tune, Landås, is the name of a neighborhood in Bergen, Norway and is adapted by William J. Kirkpatrick from an operatic melody.